At least 14 killed during two attacks in Mexican nightclubs

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO: At least 14 people were killed during two separate attacks in Mexican nightclubs, located in the northern region of the country, officials said Saturday.

At least six people were killed and another 25 injured when a group of gunmen attacked the 'Butter Club,' which is located in Mexico's second largest city, Guadalajara, Jalisco.

According to reports, the attack occurred at around 4 a.m. local time when an individual who was waiting outside the club threw a grenade toward a group of people before running and escaping in a taxi cab. After the explosion, a group of gunmen opened fire using 9 millimeter and 45 caliber weapons. They quickly fled on a white SUV after the shooting.

Two women and one man died at the scene, while three others later succumbed to their wounds in nearby hospitals and clinics.

The attack marks the third against nightclubs in Guadalajara during the past three months.

In a separate incident, six women and two men were killed in 'Las Torres' bar, which is located in the drug-infested city of Juarez, during an attack that officials believe was due to an unpaid 'fee.'

Six of the eight people were identified, two of them being bar owner Alejandro Chavarria Saldeña, his wife, Sandra Anabel Medina, as well as six employees.

The area was cordoned off as investigators will be interviewing witnesses to determine the reason behind the attack.

As government efforts have focused on fighting drug-related issues, experts say different types of crime have developed, including extortion, and have been generally overlooked.

The most affected have been bars, nightclubs, and ballrooms, as they are charged 'fees' in order for them to operate in certain areas, which are 'controlled' by organized crime groups. However, educative, religious, and even health institutions have also been affected.